The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-04-15
CRUSH OUT COERCION.
DIGNIFIED MEETING AT WASH
INGTON TO PROTEST
Against the Passage OF the Bill by
the British Parlia.
ment.
CONGRESSMAN SPRINGER SUG-
GESTS THE BETTER POLICY
For Dealing With the Subject by the
Irish-StrOng Resolutions
Adopted.

was held here this evening in Masonic
Temple to give expression on the part
of American residents andlsojouruers
at the nstionsl capital" to protest
against the pas age OF the coercion bill
for Ireland, now pending in the Brit
ish Parliament. The audience was
we'll dressed and orderly, but an en-
thusiastic throng, and filled the hall
to its utmost capacity. TIE chairman
OF the committee called the meeting
to order and introduced Congressman
Springer, of Illinois, to preside. Alter
stating the purpose OF the meeting,
Mr. Springer said it seemed to him
that history was repeating itself The
contest now going on In Great Britain
in references to the government Of Ire
land was in many respects very simi.
lar 10 that which was carried on in
the American Colonies, and il would
not be inappropriate for Ireland
at this time to proclaim that immortal
Declaration OF Independence which,
1l5 years ago, was proclaimed in Phil.
adelphia. He did not desire to be un-
derstood as suggesting to the Irish at
this time that they should pursue the
course followed by our torefathers.
Irelsnd's leaders were now seeking a
peaceful wav out OF the difiicu lties in
this great contest for libsrty and home
rule; II must not be assumed that the
English people were party to the
wrong. Let the people of Ireland pre-.
serve their 6quinimity- submit as
long as submission was possible, and
the time would not be long delayed
when the English people themselves
the working men would right the
wrong of Ireland.
Gen. Rosecrsns, Register OF the
Treasury, was then introduced, and
said that for over 800 ytats the posi-
tion OF Ireland and her people had
been an exception to what had hap
pened to all other people of the world
More than 100 coercion bills had been
passed by the British Parliament siuce
Ireland was deprived of her own Par.
lament, and the very fact that a new
one was pending was proof that these
measures had been utterly futile. He
bel eyed the object of law was to
cause reason and justice to take the
place of force. II that were true,
then the coercion bill is an outrage
on reason and justice.
Ex-senator Van Wyck, OF Nebraska,
was next introduced. He quoted from
the circular call for the meeting the
references to the threatened tuspen.
sion of the writ of habeas corpus Ia
lime of peace, the abridgment, and, in
some cases, abolition OF the right OF
rial by jury, the trsnspor alton OF
Irishmen charged with intended Of
lenses" to England for trisf', " aliU1
iuriee, aud the quarteiing OF large
bodies OF troops among the people of
Ireland, thus eating away our subsiet.
ence," and drew parallel between
hem and the passages Ia the
American Declaration OF Iude |
Deudence, relating to "the quar-
eriHg OF large bodies OF armed troops
among u.s. the deprivation in many
,ases of the benefit OF trial by Jury
he transportation of Americans 'ba.
1oDd the seas to he tried for pretended
,ffen es," etc. England, he said, had
more reason for her pretended right to |
)ppress the colonies than che had for |
,ppressiDg Ireland. In our case she |
,laimed the territory and planted her
people and government upon 1t. Ire
and bad been taken by conquest and |
poliation, for which the vengeance OF |
nen and the just judgment of heaven
had been too long delayed, Oar rescue |
lad been aided by the eympathy and
Issista1cs in money and blood
" those in other lands who |
owed liberty. How could we
emain unConceTned when the
anne unnatural monster, always ready
o devour whatever was within her
,ower, wa' seeking to destroy Ireland /? |
Ne owed Ireland a debt contracted |
more han a hundred years ego, and |
We could now pay portion OF it in
and dollars by saying
o England that 1t concerns America
hat the judgment made up by the
evolution to which she was a party
hould be recogniz I'd in her dealings
With those who were then cur allies
nd have always b sen our friends.
Congressman Grain, OF Texas, read
o the meeting the resolutions pre-
jared by the committee appointed for
he purpose. They are as follows:
WHEREAS, The Tory administration
4 Eng and is about to enact for Ira
and tyranniCal coercive measures that
viii have the effect OF abolishing trial
" jury, suspending the habeas corpus
ct, imprisoning in the foulest dun
cons thousands of innocent people,
deprived Of the privilege Of sppeal or
edress, transporting suspected per-
ons to an alien country to 20 through
ne farce OF q trial, suppreeaing the
'ress and free speech, aud, In a word,
4 robbing the people Of Ireland of all
hose rights which mankind holds
most dear and civiliz tion demands;
10 it
Resolved, That we, the citizsns Of the
apital of the United States, in mass
Meeting a 'sembled, sincerely sympa-
hizs with the Hon. VIM. i. Gladstone
nd the Hon. Charles Stuart Parnell
D their gallant battle against this bar
'aIous coercion bill, and that we earn
silly and Indignantly protest against
be pasfag by the British Parliament
1 measure calculated to brutalizs
nd enslave the people OF Ireland.
Resolved, That the enactment OF such
isbolical laws would not alone be an
utrsge on the Irish people, but a
rime against the spirit OF liberty
and that the trainers and
dvocates OF the coercian bill should
o down TO posterity condemned by
umanity and branded with infamy.
Mr.. Grain said that OF the 8O,000,000
Amer cans one fifth had Irish blood
oursing through their veina. Why,
ben, he asked, should We no, sympa-
hizs with Irelsnd2 America could
ever forget the words OF sympathy
7hich came from the Irish In The DAYS
( her own trials and suif rings. She
ould not forget the valor and hero
SUI Of a Montgomery, nor of tha, con.
uerer At New Orleans, Anh-sw Jack.
on. Nor, coming to later timse,
nuld they forget the Rallanlrg
1 a Msher, Corcorsn, q Sheridan, on
be one side, or of Pat Clsybonrne
n tbs other. England has made it
ne Of her proudesIs boasts that when.